Purpose: The purpose of this Instruction Memorandum (IM) is to transmit the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) Data Standard Report, Implementation Guidelines, and Domains.

Policy/Action: To adopt and implement the NLCS data standard. The standard for developing and maintaining NLCS data are found in attachments 1 and 2 of this IM. All offices must use this standard when developing, amending, or maintaining this electronic dataset.

Background: The BLM Director and Field Committee recognize the development of national corporate data standards and databases as being critical to facilitating BLM-wide comprehensive data management. A team of subject matter experts­­ including representatives from field offices, state offices, the Washington Office (WO), and the National Operations Center (NOC) collaborated to develop a data standard for the BLM’s NLCS. Consistent use of the NLCS data standard will result in fewer data calls and less overall effort by state and local personnel using the Bureau’s geospatial information. This will also facilitate timely sharing of BLM information with partners and the public and produce significant long-term savings for the BLM.

Time Frame: The NLCS data standard is effective immediately. The states shall have until November 30, 2010 to begin using the new data standard and provide a copy to the National Operations Center for inclusion in the national dataset.

Budget Impact: None.

Manual/Handbook Sections Affected: None.

Coordination: Development of this standard was coordinated amongst WO-171, WO-210, representative state program leads, State Data Administrators, and GIS coordinators.